Many people work out on a regular basis, but don’t feel like they are getting all the benefits, such as increased energy, better sleep, better weight maintenance, improved attitude and outlook, and even a better shape. But here’s the good news: Follow these simple tips and you’ll be sure to get more out of every workout in no time.

If you’re like most people, you spend a majority of your workday sitting at a desk and during your commute. In addition to making an effort to move more (getting up to move around every hour, taking a walk at lunchtime, etc.), you can also make sure your eating habits at work are top notch. With that in mind, here are a few practical tips to start dialing up the quality of your desk job diet.

Have you thought about hiring a personal trainer, but are wary of making a long-term commitment? The good news is that even one or two sessions with a qualified personal trainer can be incredibly helpful to ensure that the time you spend working on your fitness is productive. Here are four signs that the time might be right for you to hire a trainer.

An estimated 27 million Americans suffer from thyroid disease and 13 million people are currently undiagnosed. Learn about the risks of developing thyroid problems and how you can help keep your thyroid functioning optimally by adopting healthy lifestyle habits.

If you have tried lots of diets and have lost and regained the same 5, 10, or even 50 pounds, you know that diets don’t work! The key to successfully losing weight and keeping it off for good begins with making changes to your mental game.

From mud runs to detoxes, health and fitness trends constantly come and go. While it’s great to explore new ways of keeping your body healthy, it’s also important to be mindful about the potential harm you could be causing your body by taking things to an extreme, which is often what happens with trends.

If you’re a runner, one of the easiest ways to get hurt is to skip your warm-up. And no, a light jog doesn’t count. Rather, your warm-up should address your individual needs and fire up your neuromuscular system. Here is a quick and easy routine that will prep your body for a running workout, along with some tips for improving performance through nutrition and mental prep.

Exercising in the heat can be challenging. Your body starts to sweat to cool down. But if you’re working out and your body stops sweating you may have a more serious problem: heat related illnesses (heat exhaustion or heat stroke).

If you’re having fun while moving your body, it’s easy to forget that you’re exercising. That’s why it’s critical to find creative ways to make physical activity more enjoyable. From walking your dog to playing an informal game of tag at a family gathering, making movement fun will go a long way in sustaining a regular routine of physical activity.

With the government's recommendation to get in 10,000 steps per day, can we all realistically accomplish this daily step goal? Yes, we can. It will take a more conscious effort to do this if you live in a more rural or suburban area but it can be done.

You are the only person in charge of you, and if you want something (better health, a more fulfilling job or a more nourishing relationship), you need to take action. Let go of these five habits in order to be the healthiest version of yourself.

Maintaining a healthy weight can be challenging and, for some people, even more difficult than losing weight. The good news is that achieving lasting weight maintenance is possible. Use these 13 tips to help you succeed at maintaining your weight-loss goals.

If you’re looking for ways to improve your mobility, movement, coordination and strength specifically for the purpose of golf, consider adding the following movements to your exercise program. These exercises will not only help you improve your golf swing, but also reduce your likelihood of developing a low-back injury.

Over the past decade, the number of people biking to work has increased by 60%. More cities across America are embracing bike-friendly policies and programs, making it safer for people to integrate cycling into their modes of transportation. Biking to work can be tremendously beneficial, not only for your health, but also for the environment. Here are seven reasons why you might want to consider biking to work.

If you’re a man who has experienced some recent life changes that include changing diapers, testing bottles and carrying pacifiers around in your pockets, congratulations! There’s no question that becoming a parent is one of the most rewarding—and exhausting—experiences in life, making it a huge challenge to stick to your regular exercise program. With that in mind, here’s some advice for how you can still maintain your fitness level and keep the dad bod at bay.

Now is the time to embark on a new journey to live a complete life that maximizes your physical capabilities and wellness. These action strategies will help you achieve a greater level of balance that will contribute significantly to your physical well-being and inspire you to do better.

If you feel like you need more time for yourself—time to eat better, exercise more, declutter your home or just making some changes—here are five ways to accept and address the challenges of life and succeed.

With class schedules expanding at gyms around the country and boutique fitness studios booming, it’s clear that people are flocking to group fitness classes—and with good reason. Group fitness classes offer the opportunity to experience movement in positive, memorable, and purposeful ways, inspiring meaningful change both physically and mentally. Here are the top five reasons people love group fitness classes, and why you will, too.

Have you ever broken an exercise- or nutrition-related promise to yourself? We all have! The relationship you have with yourself and your body is one of the most valuable in your life, yet it is easily taken for granted. Here are some great activities to help you renew your vows and improve your relationship with fitness.

There’s nothing quite like watching a good movie that features fitness as an important element within the story to inspire you to put on your workout gear and start sweating. So, if you could use a little extra motivation to move, be sure to add these 14 titles to your watchlist.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but it is often incorrectly viewed as a disease of the aging. Here’s what you need to know about heart disease and how you can assess and manage your risk factors, which is an important step toward prevention.

If you’ve abandoned your New Year’s resolution or you just can’t muster much enthusiasm for it, now is a good time to reflect on how you might be more successful in sticking to your goals. The good news is that there are some other means of self-improvement that create genuine behavior change. As we approach the Lunar New Year, here are some alternative approaches you might want to consider when making resolutions.

If you’re like many people, a lack of sunlight during the long, cold months of winter can leave you feeling unmotivated and blue. While the warm, long summer days are still months away, there are still plenty of things you can do right now to boost your energy, mood and outlook on the day.

The beginning of a New Year offers a natural opportunity to press the reset button on our lives. But while January is a great time to wipe the slate clean and start anew, adopting an all-or-nothing approach to the New Year (and a new you!) is likely to backfire. Learn how to set yourself up for success, achieve your goals, and make the most of this brand New Year.

As the demands of daily life pile up, it’s easy to find yourself exhausted, defeated and overwhelmed. Fortunately, just because you lost it temporarily doesn’t mean you can’t find it again. Here is a three-day guide for getting yourself get back on track with the way of life that recharges your body, brain and spirit while you recreate an extraordinary life.

The New Year is a great opportunity to make a fresh start, leave behind some bad habits and create some good ones in their place. To help get you started, here are 60 great ideas for making 2016 your best year ever.

A growing body of research suggests that music directly affects exercise motivation. Here are four ways music affects movement, along with tips on how to choose music that will help fuel your workouts and keep you motivated.

Want to make some healthy changes? Setting health-related goals and then breaking them down into smaller, realistic steps has proven to be an effective approach for creating healthy habits and achieving long-term changes in behavior. Learn how to make small, daily changes that will, over time, become established habits that will bring you closer to your health and fitness goals.

Chronic stress can take a significant toll on the body and even lead to many long-term health concerns. Stress is so pervasive, however, that many people aren’t even aware of how stressed-out they really are. Here are 5 subtle signs that you may be feeling stressed, along with tips on how to alleviate the effects of that stress.

Body image is a concept that is housed in our minds and founded on the perspective we have about ourselves. Unfortunately, many of us do not have the most positive body image of ourselves. The good news is that it isn’t set in stone—we can change the way we feel about our bodies and make our own body image a positive one. Here are five tools to help you develop and cultivate a positive body image.

Do you know that poor posture affects good breathing techniques? Good posture is necessary for breath management, volume and resonance. In addition, it helps connect the breath to both exercise and movement. Learn how to improve posture and breathing techniques through specific flexibility exercises that help to open up the diaphragm and retrain the brain and body to breathe better.

For most freshmen, college is the first experience with living away from home, and it can be overwhelming and lead to stress, anxiety and depression, which are all associated with over-eating, alcohol consumption and poor decision making. To help you avoid using unhealthy behaviors as a way to cope with the stresses of college, here are some great tips on how to resist temptation, improve self-efficacy and proactively lead a healthy lifestyle.

Are you working hard to stick to your health and fitness goals, but not seeing the results you want? Summertime is rich with fun activities and get-togethers, many of which could be sabotaging your efforts to stay on track. Here are five typical summer behaviors that could be getting in the way of achieving your goals.

Hitting the road this summer? Whether you’re on a weekend getaway or an extended business trip, it can be tough to stick with your health and fitness goals while traveling. Technology expert Ted Vickey rounds up the latest apps to help you stay fit and focused when travel takes you away from your usual workouts and routines.

Being away doesn’t mean your healthy habits have to stray. From healthy fast food on the fly to super-fast and efficient workouts that can be done anywhere, there’s no reason why you can’t take the healthy habits you practice at home and maintain them while on the road this summer.

Just like you train your body, you must train your mind, and how we train our minds can make all the difference in the world for achieving success and happiness. Learn about the research on positive psychology and how you can use this technique to successfully adopt a new behavior, improve or maintain your health, and enhance your overall sense of happiness or well being.

Extra pounds have a way of creeping up slowly, almost imperceptibly, until one day you realize that it may be time to lose some weight and improve your health. Take a look at these 10 signs and symptoms that it’s time to lose weight. Whether you have one or many of these signs, decide to take control and begin losing weight so you can be your healthiest self for you, your family and your life.

It can be a challenge to stay on track with your health and fitness goals, especially when life gets busy (and when isn’t it?). These time-management tips will help you clarify your goals and make it easier to follow through, regardless of what the rest of your schedule looks like.

With the latest wave of new consumer health technologies, fitness technology expert Ted Vickey has never been more excited about the potential for real success. Here are a few new technologies and apps that he thinks are worth exploring if you are looking for ways to stay active at work.

You know the importance of exercise and good nutrition, but do you make getting enough sleep a priority, too? Sleep deprivation is responsible for a wide range of issues, such as weight gain, irritability and difficulty performing tasks, so it’s worth taking the time to ensure you get enough sleep on a regular basis. Here are five simple tips for improving both the quantity and quality of your sleep.

Finding time for a full workout can be tough, but fortunately you can get a lot of health benefits from short bouts of activity spread throughout your day. Here are 8 ways to add small bouts of physical activity to your day that can help you burn additional calories and improve your health.

You realize the importance of getting enough sleep each night, but did you know there are other components of rest that are key to your health and wellbeing? Learn the four key components of rest and why each one plays an important role and can significantly impact your health, wellness and fitness.

Are you struggling to stick with your New Year’s resolutions? If so, it might be time to recruit the help of your significant other. After all, the key to behavior change is making your goals as attainable as possible, so having the support of your partner is an important factor in successfully reaching those goals. Here are five reasons you and your significant other should go for your goals together.

Regardless of what your self-improvement goals might be, they will require effort, energy and engagement to be realized. But where do you begin? Here are five steps to help simplify the process and set you on the path to a more fulfilled and happier life.

When it comes to achieving your goals and being successful, the mind is, by far, the body’s most powerful muscle. And just like the rest of the body, the mind needs to be trained to perform at its best. If you feel plagued by self-doubt, self-criticism or fear, you can learn how to reframe those thoughts and feelings to help reach your goals.

Still working on your New Year’s resolutions? While most successful change involves “resolve,” simply stating a few New Year’s resolutions may not be enough to ensure success. Here are the five keys to making New Year’s resolutions that you can actually stick with throughout the year and beyond.

Does the thought of exercising outdoors in winter leave you feeling cold? Is the lack of sunshine taking a toll on your mood—and your waistline? With a little understanding of the subtle shifts that can add up to winter weight gain, you can stop blaming yourself and instead start working against the factors that promote it. ACE pro Jonathan Ross explains how to survive the winter, get fitter, make progress and start spring with a physical and mental head start.

Sleep is critical to maintaining health and wellness, with most experts recommending at least seven to eight hours per night for adults. What can you to do optimize your sleep? Modify your current behaviors to create the optimal sleep environment. Here are five actions you can take today to improve your quality of sleep.

Wondering how you can survive the holidays without packing on extra pounds? Check out these 10 survival tips, which will help keep you from overindulging while you’re at a party so you can stay on track with your health and fitness goals.

Despite the wide availability of health and fitness information, people continue to struggle with their weight and health-related behaviors. The truth is, you can’t have a healthy body without a healthy mind. Here are three tools that can help channel a healthy mindset to fuel health, happiness and wellbeing.

Having trouble sticking to you workout routine during the dog days of summer? Rather than finding new excuses for not exercising, download a few of these apps recommended by tech expert Ted Vickey and see if they motivate you to keep working toward your health and fitness goals. What do you have to lose?

Do you find yourself rushing through your day, anxious to check everything off your to-do list? For many, mealtime becomes one more obligation that needs to be done quickly. Unfortunately, this habit can make losing weight an even greater challenge. Elizabeth Kovar explains how negative thoughts and what she calls “speed disease” could be keeping your from achieving your health and wellness goals.

Do you feel selfish when you take time to work out and take care of yourself. Stop it, says Dr. Michael Mantell. Taking care of yourself is the best kind of selfishness—it makes it possible for you to care for others and to enjoy all that life has to offer. Here’s how you can stop feeling selfish about making your health a priority.

Are you dealing with chronic pain in your back or joints? If you are, here’s some good news: While many people believe that a pill can offer the answer to health, exercise and diet is most often the best medicine. Learn how you can alleviate or prevent pain by attaining and maintaining proper alignment, maintaining a healthy body weight and eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods.

Valentine’s Day is a day to show the important people in our lives how much we love them, but do you include yourself on that list? Loving yourself is an important part of creating a positive, happy life. Fitness pro Chris Freytag has nine great suggestions for showing yourself some love on Valentine’s Day and every day and creating a more fulfilling and happier year. Make this the Valentine’s Day when you start loving yourself and loving your life even more!

Wondering what all the fuss is over the FitBit? This powerhouse activity tracker is hugely popular with both fitness professionals and enthusiasts—and for good reason. It offers great tracking features and makes it possible to virtually compete with your friends and family via social media. Fitness pro Shana Verstegen outlines the features and benefits of this highly addictive device.

It’s the beginning of a New Year—are you still on track with your resolutions? If you’re starting to waver, it may be a good time to create some big-picture thinking. Dr. Michael Mantell explains why only the fully accurate, big picture will give you the tools to properly check-in on your goals, assure that what you are doing supports your plan for the coming year for your fitness, and help you feel good about the time and energy you are expending.

For many people there’s no more challenging time of the year than the holidays to test your commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Equipped with the best ways to think about eating and exercising, however, you’ll enter January feeling better than you could ever imagine—guilt-free, healthy, fit and happy.

Did you know that Twitter can be a fantastic source of health and fitness information? Technology expert Ted Vickey shares his “must-follow” list for the best health and fitness news, tips and motivation, so you can cut through some of the Twitter noise and find exactly the type of Tweets that will benefit you the most.

Despite countless books and articles devoted to staying motivated, many of us still have a hard time sticking to our exercise routines. Dr. Michael Mantell presents a simple exercise that will help you fill your thinking with positive expectations, know clearly what you expect from yourself and what you value when it comes to your health and wellbeing—all of which will help you overcome “motivation stagnation.” Try it, says Dr. Michael, and it will change your life.

When it comes to convenience and effectiveness, it’s tough to beat walking for exercise. Great for newbies and seasoned exercisers alike, walking offers numerous health benefits and can be done almost anywhere. Fitness pro Andrea Metcalf offers her top 10 tips for adding variety and challenge to your usual walking routine, whether you take it indoors or out.

The first time Ryan Vivar changed his life, he lost nearly 100 pounds. It wasn’t long before he changed his life again by becoming an ACE-certified Personal Trainer, and began helping clients overcome their own weight struggles and, in the process, regaining their lives like he once did.

Spend a few minutes on Facebook or Pinterest, where motivational quotes are hot commodities, and you might find yourself feeling pumped and determined. Dr. Michael Mantell explains why motivational quotes have the power to inspire and move us to action—and offers a few of his favorites for motivating clients.

Let’s face it: Good habits can be as hard to develop, as bad habits are to shake. But it isn’t impossible. Dr. Michael Mantell shares a proven, step-wise process for creating positive habits that will not only make living healthier a breeze, but a whole lot more rewarding as well.

Chronic stress can wreck havoc on both your emotional and physical well-being. After all, when life feels unmanageable or hard, the body releases the same types of stress hormones it needs to respond to dangerous situations. These tips from ACE Health Coach Andrea Metcalf can help you manage that stress and help you better respond to the challenges of modern daily life.

Having once weighed 200 pounds, ACE-certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach Lisa Woods knows exactly what her weight-loss clients are going through. Here, Lisa shares her story of losing nearly 80 pounds—and gaining a whole new purpose—and encourages others to seek the help of a qualified fitness professional to make the healthy lifestyle changes that will transform their lives for good.

They say you’ll never really understand another person’s struggles until you walk a mile in his or her shoes. When it comes to helping clients lose weight, ACE-certified Personal Trainer Scott Gordon has walked in their shoes and knows exactly what it takes to successfully lose weight and keep it off for good. Here, Gordon shares his personal weight-loss story and how he’s inspiring others to drop the weight and start living life to the fullest.

Like millions of Americans, you may be struggling to manage your stress levels. But instead of trying to manage it, Dr. Michael Mantell suggests we can eliminate stress before it even starts by changing the way we look at our circumstances. The link, he says, is what you think.

When it comes to losing weight, why you eat can be just as important as what you eat. Here are some great tips from registered dietitians and psychologists on how you can set yourself up for weight-loss success by keeping your emotions and hunger in check and changing the way you look at food.

There’s a reason all those weight-loss reality shows are so popular—it is inspiring to watch people lose large amounts of weight and, in the process, transform their lives. ACE-certified Personal Trainer and registered dietitian Gina Crome is equally inspiring, having shed 171 pounds and kept it off for a decade. Today, Gina helps others who want to lose weight and live healthier lives. Here are her strategies and tips for making lifestyle changes that are sure to last.

ACE-certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach Lee Jordan shares his inspiring weight-loss story of dropping 281 pounds and gaining a career as a fitness professional. Plus, he shares his top three tips for losing weight—regardless of how much you need to lose—and keeping it off for good.

There’s nothing quite like music to get your feet moving and your body rocking, especially during a workout, and there’s a ton of research to prove it. But do you know how to use music to your best advantage? Here are some great tips for creating music mixes that are sure fire up your workouts.

Trying to do a workout routine that isn’t tailored to your personality is a lot like wearing someone else’s clothes—it just doesn’t fit right. But how can you be sure what types of activities are right for you? Dr. Michael Mantell explains how you can use ACE’s online personality quiz to learn if you’re a social butterfly, go-getter, planner or adventurer, and discover which workouts will keep you coming back for more.

Are you struggling to make progress on your fitness or weight-loss goals? The secret to success could be in tracking your food intake and activity levels. Sure, tracking sounds like a lot of work, but several new products make it much easier—and even fun—to track your progress and help you identify factors that might be holding you back.

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